Onion topper



ATTORNEY.

Oct. l, 1929. c. F. BRowER ONION TOPPER Filed Aug. 31, 1927 Patented Get. 1, 1929 UNiTs STATES PATENT oFFicE i CLAYTON F. BROWER, OF PLEASANT VALLEY TOWNSHIP, SCOTT COUNTY, IOWA oNroN TOPPER Application filed August 31, 1927. Serial No. 216,605.

My invention relates to improvements inv onion toppers. The objects of my invention are: i

1. To provide a simple, easily operated ap-` plia-nce for cutting the tops from onions;

- 2.` To provide a device which will cut the tops from onions and separate the tops from the onions; H Y I 3. To provide an onion topping device which will not clog up and which will handle green as well as ripe onions;

4. To provide an onion topper in which the parts are adjustable to meet various differences of size, ripeness, etc.

I attain these objects by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,-

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the feed end of my appliance; Fig. 2 is afront elevation, but showing the frame and some of the supports broken away to disclose the construction of the cutter bars and their mounting; Fig. 3 is a detail vertical section on the line 3 3 of Figure 2, but with the frame broken away and omitting` the feed spout, 12; Fig. 4 is a detail cross section View on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, but with the supporting frame broken away; Fig. 5 is a top or plan view of the machine omitting the cutter bars; Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail of the slotted cross member. 4; Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail of one end of the knife-bar, 18, and its adjustable mountmg.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

My device comprises a frame composed preferably of angle-irons having legs, 1, la, 2 and 2a, at each corner thereof, with cross members, 3 and 4, to brace them. Auxiliary frame members, 5 and 6, are mounted upon the cross members, 4, at each end of the ma.- chine and form supports for the bearings for the main shaft, 13a. At one end of the shaft, 13a, is mounted a large gear, 13, and a crank, 15, is secured to the shaft, 13a, adjacent the gear, 13.

Upon the shaft, 13a, is also mounted a large roll, 16, which extends substantially the length of the machine. The shaft, 13a, and roll, 16, are preferably mounted in the frame at a slight angle so as to slope from the feed to the discharge end of the machine and thereby facilitate the movement of the onionsfrom the feed spout to the discharge spout.

f A'table, 11, preferably consisting of a fiat board, is adjustably mounted upon brackets, 10, secured to the upper end ofthe front legs, 2 and 2a, of the machine and extends the full length of the roll, 16, and under one end of the feed spout, 12, and adjacent the inner end of the discharge spout, 20. The table, 11, is adjustably secured upon the bracket, 10, byY bolt, 11a. and Wingnut, 11b. The table, 11, is preferably inclined towardthe roll, 16.y

Upon the cross members, 4, at each side of the machine, are secured angle or flange plates, 7, each of whichhas its flange resting upon and secured to its adjacent cross member, 4, with bolts, 7a, or'other suitable fastening means. The bolts', 7 a, extend through slots, 4a, rin the 'cross members, 4, and the slots, 4a, provide ymeans by which the position of the flange plates may be adjusted toward or away from the roll, 16.

In thevertical portion-of the flange plates,V elliptical openings, 18d, are formed, having their'longer diameter extending in a vertical direction. Supporting members, 18c and 18a, are united to extensions of the knife-bar, 18. The upper supporting members, 18a, are preferably tapered as shown in Figure 7 and are mounted in tapered openings in eccentrics, 18", and secured thereto by set screws 'as 4shown in Figure 7. Each lower supporting member, 18C,- is pivotallyseated 'in a corresponding openingl in the respective flange plates. In order t'o adjust the knife-bar, 18, so asto bring it closer to o`r farther from the path of travel of the cutter blades, 17, it is only necessary to loosen the' set screws' and turn the eccentrics, 18h, upon the supporting members, 18a, and when in the desired position, totighten the set'screws The openings, 181, have their horizontal diameter equal to'or slightly greater than the' diameter of the eccentric, 18h, so the eccentric may be turned therein and the elliptical shape of the opening, 18d, permits lateral adjustment without substantially changing the `vertical position of the knife-bar, 18.

" i; or may be'l movable'.

Supports, 8, are secured to the flange plates, 7, extending upwardly therefrom and having united to them one end of the arms, 9. In the opposite ends of the arms, 9, a shaft, 14a, is rotatably mounted which carries a small wheel, 17a, at each end thereof with a plular to rthat ofalawn mower and on account of the size of theonion tops, it will be'necesL sary ,insome cases to cause the rotating cutter blad-esto rotateA very rapidly.

In theoperation of my device, the crank,

15,"i's turned ina direction to cause the roll, 16,

andthe vcuttingy appliance, 17, 'to rotate over toward each other.. v l I The onions are then fed to the machine by being placed in the spout, y12, in which they descend by gravity, landing` upon the plate Vhen turning rapidly, the ro` tating cutting blades will have an action simi-` a frame, a relatively large feed-roll mounted therein, a feed table mounted in the frame sloping downwardly toward the feed-roll, with its lower edge secured approximately at the level of the axis of the feed-roll, a stationary lnife-bar mounted in the frame below the center line of the feed-roll, and a cutter rotatably mounted below the feed table adjacent the knife-bar.

2. An onion topping machine comprising a frame, a relatively large feed-roll mounted therein, a feed table mounted in the frame sloping downwardly toward the feed-roll, with itslpwer edge secured approximately at the level of the aXis of the feed-roll, a stationary knife-bar mounted in the frame below the' center line of the feed-roll, and a cutter having a plurality of spiral 4blades rotatably mounted below the feed table adjacent the knife-bar.

In testimony whereof he aflx'es his signature.

CLAYTON F. BROWER.

or table,"11.` Theftable, 11, may be stationary y When stationary, the motion of the roll, 16, will tend to carry the onions along lthe .table fromAk the feed spout to the discharge spout. If desired, the table maybe mounted upon shakers or'other apf pliance to cause it to vibrate.

. vInadjusting the\'machi ne,'.the' table, 11, is.

preferably placed with its nearest edge ap proximately three-quarters of an inch away from the face of the roll, 16but this distance maybe varied `to suit the requirements of particular cases. Ingeneral, for large onions, the table vmay Vbe placed farther from the roll, 16, than with small ones. The verysmall onions are allowed to pass 'between 'the edge ofthe table, 11, and the roll, 16, vand will fall through the-'open spacesl between the blades,

17,` of the cutter.

' "The oniontops vor stall-isiwill be drawn l 'downward by Ithe 'forward rotary motion of thefcutter bars, 17, 'and'will beycut o-ffby a shearing actionv between 'the blades, 17, of the cutter and the knife-bar 18.

machine as illustrated in the drawings, is shown mountedupon a stationary frame',

" but it may be mounted upon the frame of a 'movable cultivatorv or harvester. I have shown my device provided with a crank to be operated bvchand. It is also obvious that it maybe operated by horse or mechanical. power of Aany kind desired. The size, form and vproportions ofthe various parts may be modifiedv very considerably without departing from the spirit of my invention.` f

I claim i.

1. An onion ,topping machine compri-sing iso 

